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Remembering Dave Mackay

Tottenham fans were sad to wake up on Tuesday morning with the news that club legend Dave Mackay had passed away at the age of 80 on Monday evening.

The club will hold a minute’s silence on Wednesday night, as Tottenham face Swansea City at White Hart Lane.

Part of the double-winning side of 1961, Mackay epitomises the word ‘legend’, with fellow players and managers full of praise for the Scottish footballer. One of our greatest ever players, Mackay joined in 1959 for £32,000 from boy-hood club Hearts.

Playing 318 games for the club, Mackay was known for his accurate and skilful passing, which helped him to net 51 goals for the club between 1959 and 1968.

The tributes have been pouring in for this legend, with quotes from past players and managers showing just how influential Mackay was in the game. Manchester United legend George Best even described Mackay as his “toughest and bravest opponent.”

Club legend Jimmy Greaves helps to shed light on the importance of Mackay during his time at Spurs, saying: “if ever he was missing from the Tottenham side, every one of us had to work twice as hard to make up for it.”

Mackay captained Tottenham in the 1967 FA Cup final win over Chelsea, in which Spurs won the game 2-1. Mackay recovered from two broken legs just a few years earlier to lead his club at Wembley.

Tottenham released a statement on his sad passing, saying: “Dave Mackay will certainly always be remembered here as one of our greatest ever players and a man who never failed to inspire those around him.”

Mackay’s career achievements include winning all three domestic honours with Hearts, being part of the Tottenham team that won the double in 1961, winning the FA Cup in 1962 and 1967, winning the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1963, winning the league title as manager of Derby in 1975, and finally being capped 22 times for Scotland.

On Sky Sports this morning, former Spurs player Alan Mullery was clearly emotional, and when asked to talk about Mackay, he said: “have you got four hours?”